rki.news
Altaf Hamid Rao
MIRPUR (AJK), March 27 — The Turkey-based Kashmir Diaspora Coalition strongly condemned the sentencing of veteran Kashmiri rights activist and APHC leader Asiya Andrabi and two others by an Indian court, calling it a test case for the rule of law and freedom of expression.
In an official statement released Friday, the coalition urged the international community, human rights institutions, and media organizations to closely monitor the case, examine the proportionality of sentencing, and ensure adherence to international legal standards. Andrabi was sentenced to life imprisonment, while her associates Sofi Fahmeeda and Nahida Nasreen received 30-year terms under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The coalition highlighted a “deeply troubling legal paradox,” noting that the court found no evidence of terrorism, violent acts, or terror financing, yet severe sentences were imposed largely on speech, association, and political advocacy. The organization emphasized that such punishment risks transforming criminal law into a tool for political signaling rather than justice, undermining democratic principles.
Concerns were also raised regarding prolonged detention. The accused had spent nearly eight years in Tihar Jail prior to sentencing, raising serious questions under Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to a timely trial. The coalition noted that delays in judicial processes are a systemic issue, as seen in the recent prolonged detention of Shabir Ahmad Shah, highlighting broader due process concerns in Jammu and Kashmir, a disputed territory under UN Security Council consideration.
The Kashmir Diaspora Coalition urged immediate international attention to ensure that fundamental civil and political rights are protected, calling this case a litmus test for the global commitment to freedom of expression, proportionality in sentencing, and justice in politically sensitive regions. They stressed that accountability and transparency are essential to prevent further erosion of trust in judicial institutions and to safeguard the rights of vulnerable communities.